My ggf, George A Williams (B 1851 Italy) was naturalized in Kings County Court, NY on July 9, 1885. His sponsor was Giovanni Massena. I have seen a copy of the certificate but it does not list his Italian name or birthplace.

fletcherelf wrote:My ggf, George A Williams (B 1851 Italy) was naturalized in Kings County Court, NY on July 9, 1885. His sponsor was Giovanni Massena. I have seen a copy of the certificate but it does not list his Italian name or birthplace.

Try to get a copy of his "Petition for Naturalization" - on the reverse side is an affidavit section for official name change...

fletcherelf wrote:My ggf, George A Williams (B 1851 Italy) was naturalized in Kings County Court, NY on July 9, 1885. His sponsor was Giovanni Massena. I have seen a copy of the certificate but it does not list his Italian name or birthplace.

This record could be abt your ancestor??

"United States Census, 1880," George A. Williams, Brooklyn, Kings, New York

George A Williams was the sponson also of Giovanni "Massena" naturalization:U.S. Naturalization Record Indexes, 1791-1992 (Indexed in World Archives Project) about Giovann MassenaName: Giovann MassenaBirth Place: ItalyCourt District: New YorkDate of Action: 17 Sep 1884

Thanks everyone! Now if I can find his birthplace I'll have it made. He gave his youngest son the middle name of Quirico (Roger Q. Williams). There are a number of places in Italy with that name so maybe one of them is his birth place.

following the trace of George A Williams children, now we know that the children: -George J married at Mary ( scottish)-Edward J Williams married at Emma Schroeder and in 1930 lived in Riverside, Bergen, NJ-Louis Anthony Williams married at Dorothy and until 1942 lived in Riverside, Bergen, NJ Amelia Williams aka Emelia Catherine Williams married at George Petley Fletcher; Emelia died on 22 jun 1914; children: John T Fletcher 1902 ( in 1920 living with uncle Louis Anthony Williams in Brooklyn)Catherine L Fletcher 1903- Edward P Fletcher 1905 – Florence Fletcher 1909 – Sarah Jane Fletcher 1910

in 1910 census Emelia Catherine Fletcher nee Williams, well the her father was italian and the mother born in NY... I believe that the Williams surname was used by George A just from 1880... only finding the marriage record or some birth record of oldest children maybe we can know the him italian surname; and by that descover the birthplace... the oldest son, Leon was born around 1870 in Illinois... maybe they moved after the marriage and back in Brooklyn, NY...hoping of to find more..... suanj